Anti-Israel protesters at Columbia University refused to comply with an order from administration officials to vacate the encampment, with one individual threatening to “burn” the university. The ultimatum given by Columbia University was captured in photos shared on social media by a suspended student, Aidan Parisi, who posted images of a paper stating that protesters had until Monday at 2:00 p.m. to leave the encampment.
The letter from Columbia University cited concerns about the unauthorized encampment creating an unwelcome environment on campus, especially around the gates where safety issues arose. Additionally, the encampment was found to violate university policies related to vandalism, unauthorized access, non-compliance, and the Rules of University Code of Conduct.
Amidst chants of “Brick by brick, wall by wall, Israel will fall,” anti-Israel protests and encampments have sprung up on various college campuses in April. Beginning with Columbia University, similar encampments have been established at Northwestern University, Harvard University, George Washington University, UCLA, and the University of Pennsylvania.
These protests come in the wake of increased antisemitic attacks in the United States following an attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023. The Anti-Defamation League reported a 360 percent rise in antisemitic incidents in the three months after the attack, highlighting the concerning trend of rising hatred and violence.
